SeasonMapWhitehorse weather in January
Canada
January in Whitehorse: freezing, dry, with clean air — not the time — well below freezing.
#11 of 12 months in Whitehorse · #1341 of 1383 destinations to visit in January · comfort 28/100 (tier F)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Whitehorse in January
Other months in Whitehorse
July gives Whitehorse close to round-the-clock light — over eighteen hours on the record — and the forum rates July to September as the window for hiking. Near the solstice you can walk safely on a clear night, though cloud makes it too dark. Days average 21°C. Two honest caveats. The first is bugs: mosquitoes are at their worst in June and July, bad enough that regulars pack mosquito-proof clothing, and once they ease it turns into black fly season. The second is the aurora — the Yukon season runs from about 20 August to early April, so a July trip is a summer trip. The forum's own suggestion for wanting both is summer in Whitehorse, winter in Yellowknife.
Add your own note from Whitehorse's card on the map.
Whitehorse climate normals — January
| Daytime high | -12°C / 11°F | 🥶 freezing |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -18°C / 0°F | |
| Rainfall | 26 mm / 1 in | ☀️ dry |
| Rainy days | 8 days | |
| Humidity | 86% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | -15°C / 6°F | |
| Sunshine | 2.5 h/day | |
| Daylight | 6.7 h | |
| Wind | 10 km/h / 6 mph | |
| Snowfall | 44 cm / 17.3 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 36 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Whitehorse in January
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyWinter / Christmas break in Canada, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Whitehorse's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherWhitehorse's weather peaks June–August, best around July.
January coincides with Deep winter cold.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Whitehorse in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Nature
Aurora season
20 Aug – 10 Apr · usuallyDark enough to see the lights from late August until the light comes back in spring, with a break either side of the solstice when it never really gets dark. Get out of the city glow and up the Klondike Highway.
- Hazard
Deep winter cold
1 Dec – 28 FebExtreme coldCold snaps take the territory well past minus thirty and the highways out of town become a serious undertaking rather than a drive. Block heaters are standard and the road reports are worth reading twice. Source ↗
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 44 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Whitehorse — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Whitehorse?
Whitehorse in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Whitehorse?
- January in Whitehorse: freezing, dry, with clean air — not the time — well below freezing. It ranks #11 of 12 months for Whitehorse on SeasonMap's comfort score (28/100).
- What is the weather like in Whitehorse in January?
- In January, Whitehorse averages a daily high of -11.8°C and a low of -17.7°C, with about 25.7 mm of rain over roughly 8 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Whitehorse in January?
- Whitehorse has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 36 in January.
- Does it snow in Whitehorse in January?
- Whitehorse sees roughly 44 cm of snowfall in January.
Other months in Whitehorse
Compare Whitehorse in January
Warmer or cooler than Whitehorse in January
Similar destinations in North America — January
Within 300 km: Juneau's Eaglecrest ski season around 5 Dec – 5 Apr.